Crate-making machine.



C. W. STEVENSON.

CRATE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1915.

- .Patented July 30, 1918y 2 SHEETS-SHEET l CarZeaW-Seveneon, lnwmqz @vi/bauma CFW. STEVENSON.

CRATE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION F1LED SEPT. 7. 1915.

1 ,273,947, Patented July 30, 1918.4

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@9H/nemo UNITED sTATEs PATENT lOFFICE.ifg

CHARLES WaSTEVENSON, 0F PUYALLUP, WASHINGTON. x

CRATE-MAKING MACHINE.

Application filed September 7, 1915. Serial 110,419,364.

The objects of my invention are, first, tol

fornr and constructcomplete a crateY 0r box from the materials prepared and placedv in hoppers in the machine; and,second, to provide a Vmachine that will make boxes more economically and rapidly than by machines now in use. Q

I attain these objects by means ofthe machine illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in whichz-r Figure 1 is avlongitudin'al section showing the main operating lfeatures of my invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-section ktaken kon theline A-A, Fig. 1, Fig.- 3 is a cross-section taken on the line BeB Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on 'the line C+C Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view vof the side of the lmain carrier chain, Fig. 6 is view looking down upon the same, and Fig. 7'is a sectional view online D--D of Fig..5.y

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the stamping device, and Fig. 9 is a sectional viewofthe same taken on the line E-E of Fig. 8.

Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several views. Y

The mechanism of my invention is mounted on a frame A as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. and comprises a carrier chain 1 mounted on sprockets 2 and 3, to travel on horizontal lines, in the guide rails 13 and 14, and through the several stages in which the materials are assembled, constructed and marked. f

It is to'Y be observed that the chain 1 is composed of the three diferent links, l, 1b and l. occurring in rotation. These links are substantially alike, all havingalpright arms 4 pivoted clampin arms 5, 5b.. and 5c hung on pins 6, and sliding claws 757, and

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July-3o, 1918.-

7 c mounted in cross-bars 8 and 9; each crossbar. 8- being directly above a cross-bar 9, both carried on the same link. These crossbars 8 land 9 are rpreferably formed integral with the link on which they are;carried. rllhe claws, however', are spaced differently on the diii'erent links,vso that claws 7a come directly above ixed horizontal cams'V 10a, claws r 7*? above cams -10b and claws 7 ,C above camsv 10c, over which they respectively slide. Also, on links 1c, a plate 12 isattached to clamping arms 5c. One crate is constructednpon each set of three links as they pass through the machine. j y. y

Motion is* imparted to the mechanism through the pulley 15 mounted on thecrankshaft 16.l With each revolution of this vshaft the connecting-rod, 17 draws the .leverV ..18

lback. untilthe pawl 19 drops intov the next operations 4are performed. f

The assembling of the endv piecesjand par.- l. f

vBO

titions in their ,proper relative positions v comprises the first .operation andv is accomplished as follows -As the set ofl links `1,

1b and 1 enter the machine fromthe sprocket 8, link 1a passesl under the hoppers,21and 22 which contain, respectively, thexrear'end pieces and partitions, and approaches v*hopper 2 3 which contains forwardend-pieces; klink 1b passes Vunder Vhopper 21 and approaches hopper 22; andlink 1, coming oif of sprocket 3 Y approaches hopper .21.j f As the links approachthesehoppers .the claws 7a, 7bland 70,' comingin contact. withthe fixed horizontal cams `10, 10',J andllO", are liftedV high enoughk to catch the lowestend and partition` pieces inrthe hoppers and carry them forward with thechain. These end and partitionpieces, when they are clear of'their respective hoppers, drop onto Vthe open clamping arms 5, 5b and 5, and, as the links progress andthe clamping arms enf gage the horizontalcams 11, they are fastened betweenthe clampingarms and the upright arms 4, in their proper relative po? sitions. -l w ,4 In the, second operation the side pieces which are contained in the hoppers 24, 25,

29 and 30, and bottom pieces which are contained in the hoppers 26, 27 and 28, and which are detachaloly retained in said hope pers by the bottom flanges 27 and 25', and the stops 24', are assembled in their proper positions. -This is accomplished by the plate 12 on the arms 5, which is designed to project just far enough to detach the inner` piece from each hopper and carry it forward, coming in contact with the edge of each inner piece and carrying it forward with the motion of the carrier chain. As will be apparent from a consideration of Figs. 1 and 3, during this forward motion of the bottom and side pieces, due to the contact of plate 12 with the edges thereof, the pieces are rmly held in place between thel edges of their respective hoppers and the material contained therein and the edges of the end and partition pieces, which are clamped and bein' carried forward by the carrier chain. As t ie forward end of the box passes beyond the limit of these hoppers, a pause is made in the'travel of the carrier chain, and the bottom and side pieces nailed or stapled to the end pieces. The same operation occurs, on the next forward motion of the chain, to the partition, the bottom and side pieces loeing nailed thereto.

The third operation consists of the fastening of the side and bottom pieces tothe end and partition piecesl by the nailing or stapling heads 31'. These stapling heads are carried in a frame 32 which is so located that at each pause in the movement of the chain 1,k an end piece or a partition of a crate stops directly under them.4 They are a commercial device in common use and are not shown in detail. They are operated through a suitable system of levers and rods, by the cams 83 on the shaft 16. These cams are designed so that the nailing heads are at rest during the movement of the chain 1, and operate during its pause.

yThe stamping of the purchasers name on the end ofthe crate is the final operation and is accomplished by the stamping device shown in Figs. 8 and 9. This consists. of a cylindrical stamp 34, mounted on the shaft 35, in the guide blocks 36. These guide blocks are mounted on the frame 3 7, to move in vertical lines. The sta-mp is operated by the forked lever 3S which is connected by the rod 39 to the cam 40. The cam 40 is mounted on the shaft 41 which is driven at one-third the speed of shaft 16, b v the sprockets 42 and 43 and the chain belt 44. The frame 37 is located so that the end and partition pieces stop with their forward faces flush with its face; and the cam 40 is so designed that the roller 34 is operated only when the forward end of a crate is at rest under the frame. An ink pad 45 is set into the frame 37 so that the stamp rolls over it at each operation and receives fresh ink. The shaft 35 is mounted in slots in the guide blocks 36, so that it can move forward or back, and the spring 46 holds it firmly against the plate 37 and adjusts it to any variation in the position of the crate.

After this operation is completed the clamping arms 5a, 5b and 5C, passing the end o f cam 11, lare released and the completed crate is delivered to the operator.

To insure the stopping of the chain l, at the proper position the stop claw 4'7 is raised by the cam 48 and the bell-crank 49, so that the pins 6 in the chain catch against it, and is then dropped before the next move commences.

At the completion of each move forward the pawl 50, attached to the frame of the Y machine, engages the ratchet-wheel 20, and

prevents any backward movement of the chain.

While my ldrawings show a machine designed to construct berry crates, my invention is equally applicable to the construction of boxes of other types.

In constructing my machine, I do-not limit myself to certain materials, nor to fixed dimensions, but reserve the right to vary the same as circumstances may require.

Having described my'invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Y 1. A box-making machine comprising a plurality of hoppers containing the stock for the various parts ofa crate or box, an endless traveling carrier chain havingmeans for detaching the various parts of the box from their respective hoppers and assembling them in the form of a box, holding them in their proper relative positions and carrying them forward through the machine, and means for fastening'Y the various parts of the box together.

2. In a machine ofthe class specified, the combination with a plurality of hoppers containing stock for the various parts o f a box, of an endless traveling carrier chain provided with means for detaching the' various parts of the box from their respective hoppers and assembling them in the form of a box, and means for holding the various parts of the box iny their proper relative positions.

3. An endless traveling ca riier chain composed of al plurality of links.l substantially alike, each link having upright arms against which the transverse pieces of the box are held, clamping arms operable to hold the transverse pieces against the upright arms and means to move the arms to clamping position. l

4. An endless traveling carrier chain composed of a plurality of links substantially alike, each link having upright arms against which the transverse pieces of the box are held, and pivoted clamping arms operable t0 turn the transverse pieces from an inclined to a vertical position and hold them' against the upright arms. A

5. A box machine comprising an endless traveling carrier chain composed of al plurality of links, substantially alike, eachlink having hooks or claws, operable in a vertical direction, to detach the lowest pieces of material in the hoppers, transverse hoppers to contain the material, and clamping arms adapted to receive the detached pieces.

G. A box machine comprising an endless traveling carrier chain composed of a plurality of links, substantially alike, each link having hooks or claws, operable in a vertical direction, to detach the lowest pieces of material in the hoppers, transverse hoppers to contain the material, clamping arms for receiving the detached pieces, said claws being located differently in the diiferent links, and means to operate the claws so arranged that each set of claws operates to detach the transverse piece only which that link is designed to carry.

7. A box machine comprising an endless traveling carrier chain composed of a plurality of links, substantially alike, each link that is designed to carry the rear transverse piece of a box having means for detaching the longitudinal side and bottom pieces of Vthe boX from their respective hoppers and carrying them forward through the machine, and hoppers to contain saidV side and bottom pieces.

8. In a machine of the class specified, the combination with an endless traveling carrier chain composed of a plurality of links, substantially alike, each link having clamping arms operable to turn the transverse pieces of the boX from an inclined to a vertical position and hold them so, of means for operating said clamping arms at the vdesired point in the travel of the carrier chain.

9. In a machine of the class specified, the combination with an endless traveling carrier chain and a plurality of transversely disposed hoppers containing stock for the transverse pieces of the box, of a plurality of longitudinally disposed hoppers grouped over and on either side of the carrier chain and containing stock for the bottom and side pieces of the box, the'hoppers which contain side pieces having a downward slope toward the chain.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES W. STEVENSON. Witnesses:

J. BERT FORBES, MAURICE E. FORBES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ofIPatents,

, Washington, D. 0.. Y 

